Best Lobster Roll (2013)

Chef David Myers' new restaurant, Hinoki & the Bird — which celebrates Japan, Los Angeles and the intermingling of their two cuisines — has a lot of standout dishes. But vying for top spot is the lobster roll, a dish that is as nontraditional as it is delicious, an exciting ode to the original, with enough modern twists to take it to a whole other level. The lobster meat has a light citrus tang and a hint of green curry and Thai basil. The roll is made black as soot with Japanese charcoal. The lobster's freshness set against the bread's sweet grit is nothing short of revelatory. 10 Century Drive, Century City. (310) 552-1200, hinokiandthebird.com. —Besha Rodell